Shortening estimation in chevron with post flexion deformation

Abstract

Folds are geological structures present in many tectonic environments, their geometry allows us to obtain a quantitative approximation of the deformation that they accommodated. Chevron folds are an important tool to estimate shortening in orogenic systems, due to their particular geometry. In spite of this, a method to calculate the amount of shortening (dynamic and kinematic) consistent with the theory of chevron folds has not been proposed. In this work, we propose a new method for the calculation of total shortening in chevron folds that have a post-buckling deformation based on the theoretical considerations of Ramsay (1974). Our method is conceptually simple and general, so that it can be applied to estimate the amount of shortening in the orogenic systems around the world.